Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With respect to the Arts Council funding of the Gate Theatre, as the Deputy will be aware, HR issues are a matter for the board of the Gate Theatre. Boards and directors of theatres and of any of the other cultural institutions must take on board their responsibilities. There are legal obligations to which they must adhere. While the Arts Council is independent in its funding decisions, I understand a number of conditions related to financial assistance being operated by the council apply to its funding recipients. These conditions include a requirement that recipients must comply with all laws applicable to the body in question, including statutory obligations under employment law, statutes, regulations and revenue requirements. In addition, recipients must avoid any form of discriminatory practice and have regard for the need to promote equal opportunities in all areas of work in compliance with the provisions of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011.

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